“When I Look At the Cross”

Text: Luke 23:46

Introduction: Today, I would like to mention some of the things 
which I see when I look at the cross on which Christ died.

Body:
  I. When I look at the cross, I see evidence for my faith.
     A. The fulfillment of prophecy.
        1. Zechariah 11:12-13 (Matthew 26:14-16; 27:5, 7)
        2. Psalms 22:18 (Matthew 27:35)
        3. Psalms 22:7-8 (Matthew 27:41-43)
        4. Psalms 34:20 (John 19:32-36)
        5. Isaiah 53:9
     B. I see a group of women, and in their midst is Mary, 
        watching her son die – Evidence of virgin birth.
     C. I see the character of Jesus – 1 Peter 2:23
     D. I See the marvelous events surrounding it all. Matthew 
        27:51-54.

 II. When I look at the cross, I see sin.
     A. I see the sins of the world. 1 John 2:2
     B. I need to add the word “My” to the word “sin.”

III. When I look at the cross, I see my helplessness.
     A. Christ died because man can not do anything to remove 
        sin.
     B. For 4000 plus years, man had struggled with the problem 
        of sin.
     C. All the sacrifices, tears, and prayers of all the people 
        of all times collected together, could not removed one 
        single sin.
     D. It was man’s total helplessness that lead Jesus to the 
        cross.

 IV. When I look at the cross, I see the love of God.
     A. Romans 5:6-8
     B. 1 John 4:9-10
     C. 1 John 4:19

  V. When I look at the cross, I see my Savior.
     A. The qualifications of a Savior.
        1. Vision
        2. Willingness
        3. Ability
     B. Jesus had every qualification.
        1. 2 Corinthians 8:9
        2. John 10:18
        3. Hebrews 7:25

 VI. When I look at the cross, I see my debt.
     A. Surely I am not to think that Christ did it all, that I 
        owe nothing in return for what He has done for me.
     B. Yet it is no debt to fulfill some personal need of His. 
        Acts 17:25
     C. The story of the man who gave a can of gasoline to 
        another.
     D. Romans 1:14-16
     E. We fulfill our debt to the Lord as we give ourselves 
        into His service.
        1. Here is our motivation.
        2. “You have done so much for me, how can I ever repay 
           y0u?” we say.
        3. Then we offer ourselves to a life of repaying Him who 
           has befriended us.